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It’s just a bill

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Illinois

Not long ago, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner said he wouldn’t have done anything differently when it came to the state’s response to deadly Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks at the Quincy veterans’ home.

But since those February comments, the Republican governor has, in fact, adopted a dramatically different approach to the public health crisis that has contributed to the deaths of 13 Illinois Veterans Home residents since 2015. And Rauner now has an entire legislative portfolio about to be delivered to his doorstep aimed at fixing the problem that’s beset his re-election campaign.

Before lawmakers ended their spring session Thursday, eight different measures won final legislative approval, headlined by a $53.1 million appropriation in the state budget to begin rebuilding the state’s largest and oldest veterans’ facility in Quincy. That’s where there have been outbreaks of Legionnaires’ — a form of waterborne pneumonia — in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.

Lawmakers also voted to require residents and families be notified within one day of an outbreak of Legionnaires’ or other infectious diseases. And they voted to give families who lost loved ones at the home to Legionnaires’ a potential legal windfall, raising the state’s legal liability in those cases from $100,000 to $2 million.

* Pritzker campaign…

“While Bruce Rauner puts press stunts before our Veterans’ wellbeing, lawmakers passed a stack of bills to crack down on his fatal mismanagement,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “Thirteen of our nation’s heroes and their spouses died on Rauner’s watch, and it’s time for this failed governor to do his job and protect our Veterans.”

* Other bills…

* Can medical marijuana help combat Illinois’ opioid crisis?: The plan also eliminates some barriers to access of the state’s restrictive medical marijuana program. It would remove requirements that patients undergo background checks and fingerprint scans, which critics argue disproportionately prevents lower-income and minority communities from obtaining the drug.

* Illinois lawmakers OK medical marijuana as painkiller substitute, bill now goes to governor: While science is not settled on the efficacy of using cannabis in place of narcotics, Harmon said, “The only two things I know for certain is, opioids kill people, and marijuana does not.”

* Legislature passes bill to improve insurance coverage for mental health, addiction: Among other things, it would prohibit private insurers from requiring prior authorization for medications to treat addiction, and bar them from requiring patients try less expensive medications for addiction before stepping up to more expensive ones. Those requirements already apply to Medicaid managed care organizations. … The Kennedy Forum Illinois and several other groups released the results of a survey last year showing disparities in coverage in Illinois. According to that report, about 59 percent of hospitals, psychiatrists and other providers surveyed said Medicaid managed care organizations “always” or “often” denied coverage for inpatient treatment for addiction and mental health issues. Medicaid managed care organizations are insurers that administer benefits for Medicaid, a state- and federally funded insurance program for the poor.

* Governor to consider hundreds of bills passed this session: Budget aside, for the first year of the 100th General Assembly, which was the 2017 legislative year, the House passed 380 bills while the Senate passed 235 bills for a combined total of 615 bills. For both 2017 and so far in 2018, 1,226 pieces of legislation passed. All together, the House and Senate combined filed 12,812 bills and resolutions for consideration.

* On the verge of big advances in political ethics in scandal-plagued Springfield: But now, if House Bill 138 is signed into law as it was approved, any findings of questionable behavior by Madigan or the other legislative leaders will bypass them and go to the commission. The leaders can respond only as any other subject of an investigation would. That’s big progress.

* Illinois tamps down ‘pension spiking’ for teachers; educators fear disincentive for hiring: But teachers unions and others say the new system will not only force down pension rates — depriving districts of a big selling point in attracting new teachers who might not be enticed by the modest salaries alone — but also could have an impact on things such as extracurricular activities. For example, they say, districts might be hesitant to let teachers coach school teams or take substantial promotions near the ends of their careers, because it could put the district on the hook for pension penalties if the extra pay equals more than 3 percent of the original salary.

* Gaming bill gets stuck in committee as session ends. What’s it mean for Fairmount Park?: In the past, the park has said without a new revenue source approved by the state, it would need to cut the 2018 season short. Instead of running through Sept. 22, the park looked to end its season July 3.

* Lake County waterway dredging, flood mitigation efforts get boost from General Assembly: The latest legislative session in Springfield delivered a few benefits to Lake County, including a new law that will help the Fox Waterway Agency become more independent, while new funding approved this week by the General Assembly includes flood-damage grants for several areas around the county.

* Press Release: Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today called on Governor Bruce Rauner to sign House Bill 4922 into law to put a stop to companies that issue rebate cards that charge dormancy or inactivity fees and avoid unclaimed property laws. … House Bill 4922 recently passed the Illinois House and Senate with bipartisan support. The legislation amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to prohibit the sale or issuance of a rebate card that charges dormancy fees and almost all other post-issuance fees. The legislation was sponsored by Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) and Representative Theresa Mah (D-Chicago).

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 5, 18 @ 12:08 pm

Comments

JB certainly can be counted on the fix the ancient plumbing in the Quincy VA home that housed civil war veterans.

He has excellent plumbing contacts.

Comment by Lucky Pierre Tuesday, Jun 5, 18 @ 12:25 pm
LP finally makes a joke [exclamation point] Will wonders never cease?

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 5, 18 @ 12:32 pm
Rich, I’ve been under the impression that everything LP says is meant to be a joke.

Comment by don the legend Tuesday, Jun 5, 18 @ 12:46 pm
Does this mean we’re seeing the new and improved Luckybot 8000?

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Jun 5, 18 @ 12:51 pm
Is there a bill number for the insurance for mental health/addiction?

Comment by Otown Beatdown Tuesday, Jun 5, 18 @ 12:57 pm